PEP therapy acts similarly to which method?

PEP therapy, or Positive Expiratory Pressure therapy, operates similarly to PEEP (Positive End-Expiratory Pressure) or CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) methods in that they all serve to maintain a certain level of pressure in the airways. This pressure helps to keep the alveoli open during exhalation, thereby improving ventilation, oxygenation, and facilitating effective airway clearance.

In the case of PEP therapy, the patient exhales against resistance, which promotes collateral ventilation and helps in mobilizing secretions from the lungs. This method is particularly beneficial for patients with respiratory conditions, as it aids in maintaining lung volume and enhancing gas exchange, similar to the way PEEP and CPAP do by preventing alveolar collapse and sustaining lung inflation.

Other methods such as high flow nasal cannula and nebulizer therapy serve different purposes. High flow nasal cannula provides a high flow of oxygen but does not create positive pressure in the same way. Nebulizer therapy delivers medications in aerosol form and does not focus on maintaining airway pressure, making them distinct from how PEP therapy, PEEP, and CPAP function.